Discussing Controversial Issues Affecting The British Chinese Community UK

Monday, 17 October 2011

Occupy Central Hong kong

Occupy Central Hong Kong Anti-Capitalist Protest 佔領中環

The sight of Hong Kong Central Exchange Square occupied by local Hong Kong Chinese anti-capitalist protesters was rather strange, one rarely sees this from the apathetic Hong Kong Chinese, rather its usually a few ageing mavericks in the form of the long haired hippy, Che Guevara T-shirt wearing, 'egg throwing' Leung Kwok Hung and his entourage that cause an occasional stir.

In theory though, one should not be surprised as the South China Morning Post last year reported that Hong Kong's richest households earn 27 times more than the poorest households, Hong Kong as a free market economy should be challenged, so there are legitimate concerns for protest. However, it is bizarre their protests have taken on very western perspectives.

Although the Anti-Capitalist movement and the Socialist movement are both international, they remain heavily driven by western Caucasians. I wrote an article last year on the student riots in London, in consideration that 90% of British Born Chinese are in higher education, surely BBC would be affected by student funding issues, yet there were no ethnic East Asian students protesting. By the same token, if one takes the International Socialist movement in the UK, one has never seen ethnic Chinese involved in these organisations, its predominately a White Caucasian movement.

The Hong Kong Anti-capitalists are all highly influenced by western thinking as such there were a number of westerners attending the protest.

There was a young Chinese guy sitting on the floor with his guitar singing in English - the song "Imagine" by John Lennon, be it with a noticeable bad Chinese accent.

Several others wore Guy Fawkes masks from the western anarchist film 'V for Vendetta.'

Some bizarre influence from South American Mexican Ricardo Flores Macon.

Christianity - Homage to British colonialism

Chinese lack an authentic East Asian or Chinese philosophy behind their protest, merely trudging on the back of western ideals, indeed this protest at the weekend was in solidarity of its leader - Occupy Wall Street. We need to address the original problem, Chinese are just not innovative enough nor leaders but followers of western ideals and western culture. Still, kudos for protesting, if the Hong Kong Chinese who are undoubtedly as apathetic as it gets in terms of politics (surpassed only by the British Chinese for apathy), isn't it about time the British Chinese (who are more westernised than their Eastern counterparts) asserted their own political presence in the UK?

I've had experience with Hong Kong Chinese, to say they are apolitical can't be further from the truth. They just have no time to do anything about it - weak social welfare = less cushion for social security = more time needed to work to survive. That's why you see loads more old folk protesting compared to the West, where it's mainly young ones.

As for the protest, it is obvious why they are doing it - the widening gap between rich and poor. In the West we are pissed because we have to cut our incomes and living standards whilst the big corporations post record profits; in the East the people are pissed because they are wondering why they are not part of the "Rise of Asia" growth. Hard workers still living in tiny boxes. Men with no families. Couples with only enough money for one kid (if that). Old folk dying through hunger and REAL poverty (not western poverty). The disabled just being forgotten and left to waste.

You get the idea. Nothing to do with copying what white people think - the divide between rich and poor is universal

A terrible story where people ignored the kid to die, something which has happened quite a few times in white countries I might add... yet the commentators there are quick to use this as ammo as an inherent "Chinese" thing - cruel to animals, cruel to people - coveniently ignoring their own numerous cases of animal, child and human abuse. A woman even mentions in another story that "unlike the Chinese, we care for our animals"... someone with short memory then, as just the previous day there was a huge story on SOME whites (and their kid) taunting and abusing their dog.

But this is where the Chinese are different. Unlike the whites, we don't insult and stereotype others based on the actions of a few, whilst ignoring our own failings on the same matter. What is also different is the level of abuse and pure malice that whites are posting on there eg.

"It seems that ordinary Chinese don't value human life in quite the same way and lack empathy, don't they?- tony, Worthing

I am genuinely concerned about this level of hatred. By saying the above statement in such a cool and matter of fact manner sets up future conflicts and interactions between whites and Chinese, as the whites consider us to be inhuman and thus unworthy of proper humane treatment. This could translate into inhumane (oh the irony) and merciless attacks on our people, families and property.

This was part of a general 'world wide' movement, so its western influence is probably not that suprising. But i have my suspicions as to its genuine authenticity...as i think the whole 'anti wallstreet protest' is cunningly staged...but thats another topic for debate.

As anonymous232 says, poverty in HK has been going on for a while. Cages that poor live in like this have been going on for a while.Mentally ill people, unemployed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU4jjdRzy3w

its the rich /poor divide. I guess theres poor people everywhere, but when it comes down to it, im not sure how a protest of any kind can be cultural. when you are poor, you are poor, thats it. You just want some better choices available to you.

If Hong Kong is not leader, then explain the 2003 march. No Western influences there, just a massive reaction to a badly-written national security law with some bitter memories to boot, against a back drop of mishandled affairs and one epidemic.

I had no interest in hong kong politics back then, but I googled it and it seems to be linked to the rights of pre 1997 in other words, they were fighting to maintain what was established during british colonial rule against communist Chinese influence. wikipedia states...

"Some Christian churches led by Rev. Chu Yiu Ming (朱耀明) of the Baptist Church and Roman Catholics led by Bishop Joseph Zen organized a prayer gathering in Victoria Park before the march which was attended by some 40,000 people."

So even then in 2003, it was heavily influenced by westernism, its part of hong kong culture, just look at the number of Christian schools in hongkong, they've remained intact even 14 years after hand over and will probably still be intact even after 2047 - Hong kong's final day of autonomy.

If as some posters are suggesting this is some western influenced march, then again, the people of Hong Kong can't win. Since they're accused of working all hours of the day, ignoring poverty against rich, what's the alternative? After all, isn't Hong Kong built by the classic western model of capitalism?

The irony is, Hong Kong people enjoy far more socialist rights then that of China and for that, we get to see a calm protest in return. I can't see how people can have any other type of protest. You could say, the culture of work work work has been finally broken. It beats old grannies jumping off buildings when share prices collapse. SF.